• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.438-441
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• 2005

A mediator-less microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used to determine the performance effects of a membrane­electrode assembly (MEA). The MFC with an MEA generated a higher current with an increased coulomb yield when compared to an MFC with a separate cathode. Less oxygen was diffused through an MEA than through a Nafion membrane. The MFC performance was improved with a buffer, although a high-strength buffer reduced the performance.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.07a
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• pp.2307-2308
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• 2008

We observed internal space charge behavior for two types of epoxy composites under dc electric fields to investigate the influence of water at high temperature. In the case of glass/epoxy specimen, homocharge is observed at water-treated specimen, and spatial oscillations become clearer in the water-treated specimens. Electric field in the vicinity of the electrodes shows the injection of homocharge. In aramid/epoxy specimens, heterocharge is observed at water-treated specimens, i.e. negative charge accumulates near the anode, while positive charge accumulates near the cathode. Electric field is enhanced just before each electrode. In order to further examine the mechanism of space charge formation, we have developed a new system that allows in situ space charge observation during ion migration tests at high temperature and high humidity. Using this in situ system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.617-620
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• 1999

To reduce the consumption of chemicals and ultra pure water(UPW) in cleaning process used in device manufacturing, we proposed wet processes that use electrolytic ionized water(EIW), which is generated by electrolysis of a diluted electrolyte solution or UPW and systemically investicate the EIW\`s characteristics. EIW\`s pH values are increased in cathode chamber and decreased in anode chamber according to the electrolysis time and its varied ratio is reduced with time increasement. The variation of pH and ORP is increased accordin to the applied voltage until critical voltage. But more than that voltage, the variation is decreased because of ion\`s scattering effect. When electrolyte is added, the effects of electrolysis is increased because electrolyte acts as catalyst. But when the density of electrolyte is increased more than critical value, ion\`s flowage is obstructed and the effects of electrolysis is decreased.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1221-1228
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• 2005

Carbon electrode was applied to a wastewater treatment system as biofilm media. The spatial distribution of heterotrophic bacteria in aerobic wastewater biofilm grown on carbon electrode was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and biomass measurement. Five volts of electric oxidation and reduction potential were charged to the carbon anode and cathode of the bioelectrochemical system, respectively, but were not charged to electrodes of a conventional system. To correlate the biofilm architecture of bacterial populations with their activity, the bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons was measured in the bioelectrochemical system and compared with that in the conventional system. In the SEM image, the biofilm on the anodic medium of the bioelectrochemical system looked intact and active; however, that on the carbon medium of the conventional system appeared to be shrinking or damaging. In the AFM image, the thickness of biofilm formed on the carbon medium was about two times of those on the anodic medium. The bacterial treatment efficiency of organic carbons in the bioelectrochemical system was about 1.5 times higher than that in the conventional system. Some denitrifying bacteria can metabolically oxidize $H_{2}$, coupled to reduction of $NO_{3}^{-}\;to\;N_{2}$. $H_{2}$ was produced from the cathode in the bioelectrochemical system by electrolysis of water but was not so in the conventional system. The denitrification efficiency was less than $22\%$ in the conventional system and more than $77\%$ in the bioelectrochemical system. From these results, we found that the electrochemical coupling reactions between aerobic and anaerobic reactors may be a useful tool for improvement of wastewater treatment and denitrification efficiency, without special manipulations such as bacterial growth condition control, C/N ratio (the ratio of carbon to nitrogen) control, MLSS returning, or biofilm refreshing.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.296-301
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• 2018

In this study, an experiment is performed to recover the Li in $Li_2CO_3$ phase from the cathode active material NMC ($LiNiCoMnO_2$) in waste lithium ion batteries. Firstly, carbonation is performed to convert the LiNiO, LiCoO, and $Li_2MnO_3$ phases within the powder to $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO. The carbonation for phase separation proceeds at a temperature range of $600^{\circ}C{\sim}800^{\circ}C$ in a $CO_2$ gas (300 cc/min) atmosphere. At $600{\sim}700^{\circ}C$, $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO are not completely separated, while Li and other metallic compounds remain. At $800^{\circ}C$, we can confirm that LiNiO, LiCoO, and $Li_2MnO_3$ phases are separated into $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO phases. After completing the phase separation, by using the solubility difference of $Li_2CO_3$ and NiO, CoO, and MnO, we set the ratio of solution (distilled water) to powder after carbonation as 30:1. Subsequently, water leaching is carried out. Then, the $Li_2CO_3$ within the solution melts and concentrates, while NiO, MnO, and CoO phases remain after filtering. Thus, $Li_2CO_3$ can be recovered.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.187-190
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• 2012

Contamination of ion from cathode air on the membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) is the serious degradation source in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). In this study, concentration of ions in air at industry region, street and seaside were measured. There were comparably high concentration of $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ in this regions. This paper shows the effects of MEA contamination by these ions generated from humidification water. After 170 hours of fuel cell operation using city water as humidification water, the performance of unit cell decrease to 11% of initial performance. The electrolyte membrane easily absorbed foreign contaminant cations due to the stronger affinity of foreign cations with the sulfonic acid group compared to $H^+$. The contaminant ions existing in the interface between the platinum catalyst and ionomer layer turn out to be the most serious factor to decrease cell performance.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2024

The demand for electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries is continuously increasing. Recovery of valuable metals from waste lithium-ion batteries will be necessary in the future. This research investigated the effect of reaction temperature on the lithium recovery ratio from hydrogen reduction followed by water leaching from lithium-ion battery NCM-based cathode materials. As the reaction temperature increased, the weight loss ratio observed after initiation increased rapidly owing to hydrogen reduction of NiO and CoO; at the same time, the H₂O amount generated increased. Above 602 ℃, the anode materials Ni and Co were reduced and existed in the metallic phases. As the hydrogen reduction temperature was increased, the Li recovery ratio also increased; at 704 ℃ and above, the Li recovery ratio reached a maximum of approximately 92%. Therefore, it is expected that Li can be selectively recovered by hydrogen reduction as a waste lithium-ion battery pretreatment, and the residue can be reprocessed to efficiently separate and recover valuable metals.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2021

Demand for lithium-based secondary batteries is greatly increasing with the explosive growth of related industries, such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. In Korea, there are several top-rated global lithium-ion battery manufacturers accounting for 40% of the global secondary battery business. Most discarded lithium secondary batteries are recycled as scrap to recover valuable metals, such as Nickel and Cobalt, but residual wastes are disposed of according to the residual lithium-ion concentration. Furthermore, there has not been an attempt on the possibility of water discharge system contamination due to the concentration of lithium ions, and the effluent water quality standards of public sewage treatment facilities are becoming stricter year after year. In this study, the as-received waste water generated from the cathode electrode coating process in the manufacturing of high-nickel-based NCM cathode material used for high-performance and long-term purposes was analyzed. We suggested a facile recycling process chart for waste water treatment. We revealed a correlation between lithium-ion concentration and pH effect according to the proposed waste water of each recycling process through analyzing standard water quality tests and daphnia ecological toxicity. We proposed a realistic waste water treatment plan for lithium electrode manufacturing plants via comparison with other industries' ecotoxicology.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.38 no.4 s.117
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• pp.53-60
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• 2006

Paper materials for long term conservation suffer slowly mechanical and chemical deterioration, the extent of which may depend upon their conservation environment. Those deterioration includes discoloring, low moisture content, acidification, and brittleness. To slow deterioration, washing treatment, deacidification, and polymer reinforcement on paper materials are usually used. One easy and simple method of fixing low moisture content and acidification was an washing method, and we used both distilled and alkali water in washing method in this study. Alkali water is electrolyzed cathode water of high pH, and has no alkali metal ions in it. Experiment showed that washing treatment with both distilled and alkali water gave improvement in raising moisture content, pH, and mechanical strength of paper materials even after severe accelerated aging test. Advantageous effect of alkali water over distilled water on preventing deterioation was also shown clearly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society Of Semiconductor Equipment Technology
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.117-119
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• 2002

A semiconductor cleaning technology has been based upon RCA cleaning which consumes vast amounts of chemicals and ultra pure water. This technology hence gives rise to many environmental issues, and some alternatives such as electrolyzed water are being studied. In this work, intentionally contaminated Si wafers were cleaned using the electrolyzed water. The electrolyzed waters were obtained in anode and cathode with oxidation reduction potentials and pH of -1050mV and 4.8, and -750mV and 10.0, respectively. The electrolyzed water deterioration was correlated with $CO_2$ concentration changes dissolved from air. Overflowing of electrolyzed water during cleaning particles resulted in the same cleanness as could be obtained with RCA clean. The roughness of patterned wafer surfaces after EW clean maintained that of as-received wafers. RCA clean consumed about $9\ell$ chemicals, while electrolyzed water clean did only $400m\ell$ HCl or $600m\ell$ $NH_4$Cl to clean 8" wafers in this study. It was hence concluded that electrolyzed water cleaning technology would be very effective for releasing environment, safety, and health(ESH) issues in the next generation semiconductor manufacturing.ring.